Alignment and adjustment clamp

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises an improved clamp for securing two members together. The invention includes a pair of clamp jaws that may be positioned in spaced relation to each another and adjusted in three dimensions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a clamp and more particularlyto an improved clamp that is capable of securing two spaced membershaving a lateral offset and/or vertical offset from each other, therebypermitting multi-planar adjustment.

Description of the Related Art

Clamps of various designs and configurations are well known in the art.Prior art clamps are used in myriad applications, including woodworking,plumbing, general construction, metal working, and surgeries of allvarieties. Many prior art clamps are as simple as a pair of opposed jawsthat are held together by the force of a users' hand. Other prior artclamps utilize various locking mechanisms hold the clamp jaws in placeonce they are appropriately positioned. However, these prior art clampssuffer from the inability to clamp two members that are displaced orspaced from one another, without the participation of multiple users toforce the two members together and operate the clamp.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a clamp that is capable ofholding two members together that include clamp jaws that are readilyadjusted in three dimensions and deployed to counteract “offset” ordisplacement between the two members. The independent adjustment andalignment of two clamping members into relative positions presents asubstantial improvement in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a clamp in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a clamp in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a detail view of an offset adjustment assembly taken along theline 3-3 of FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of a clamp in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of a clamp in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of a clamp in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of a clamp in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of a clamp in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an elevation view of a clamp in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an elevation view of a clamp in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an elevation view of a clamp in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a clamp being used to set a bonefracture in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a clamp being used to set a bonefracture in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of a clamp being used to set a bonefracture in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a detail view of a clamp jaw in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring now to drawing FIGS. 1-3, and in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, there is depicted a clamp 10 forjoining or securing two spaced members together that includes a pair ofopposed handles 20 each having a central shaft 22 secured thereto.Shafts 22 are pivotally secured together at a point by a hinge 24, whichmay comprise a simple pin that is inserted through an aperture 26 ineach shaft 22.

In one embodiment of the invention handles 20 may include a lockingmechanism 30 to secure handles together in spaced relation. Lockingmechanism 30 may comprise a plurality of teeth 32 arranged along alocking arm 34, that engage concomitant teeth 32 on an opposed lockingarm 34 as handles 20 are moved toward each other.

Shafts 22 terminate in an offset adjustment assembly 40, depicted indetail in FIG. 3. Offset adjustment assembly 40 includes a collar 50that is secured to shaft 22 at a point. Collar 50 comprises a firstaperture 52 through which a set or clamp screw 54 is inserted, andfurther comprises a second aperture 56 shaped to accept an offset bar 70there through. Second aperture 56 may include a partially conical cutoutportion 58 that is shaped to engage a frusto-conical wedge 60, best seenin FIG. 3.

Offset adjustment assembly also includes a threaded plate 80 having afirst threaded aperture 82 that is engaged by an end of clamp screw 54and a second aperture 84 shaped to accept offset bar 70. By tighteningclamp screw 54, threaded plate 80 forces wedge 60 into second aperture56 cutout portion 58, thereby securing offset bar 70 in collar 50. Wedge60 may be integral with threaded plate 80, in one embodiment of theinstant invention. By loosening clamp screw 54, offset bar 70 may slidethrough collar 50, thereby providing a lateral offset to clamp 10, asdiscussed in detail herein below and shown in FIGS. 12-14. It should benoted that while offset bar 70 and second apertures 56 and 84 aredepicted as generally hexagonal in shape, any shape offset bar 70 andapertures 56, 84 may be used without departing from the scope of theinstant invention.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-3 offset bar 70 is secured at a point to anarm 90 that terminates in a cylindrical arm 92. Cylindrical arm 92includes a plurality of helical threads 94 in its interior surface thatengage a threaded clamp arm 100. Clamp arm 100 may include a finger grip102 at a proximal end 104 thereof to facilitate a user rotating arm 100,thereby extending or retracting clamp arm 100 as necessary. As readilyseen in FIG. 12, offset bar 70 may be slid to provide lateral spacingbetween clamp arms 100.

A distal end 106 of clamp arm 100 terminates in an unthreaded portion110, which is rotatably secured to a clamp jaw 120 retaining pin 122, asshown in detail in FIG. 15. Clamp 10 utilizes a pair of clamp jaws 120,each rotatably secured to distal end 106 of a clamp arm 100, and eachhaving a plurality of teeth or gripping surfaces for contacting andsecuring a member being clamped. Clamp jaw 120 may also comprise anopposed pair of slots 132 through which retaining pin 122 may beinserted to enable a user to adjust the angle of clamp jaw 120. Asdepicted in the Figures, slots 132 may be generally arcuate in shape toenable rotation of clamp jaw 120. Retaining pin 122 includes a threadedcap 124 that may be tightened to secure pin 122 in slots 132, therebyprohibiting further rotation of clamp jaw 120 once it is adjusted to ausers' liking.

Additionally, clamp jaws 120 may comprise an aperture 134, or aplurality thereof, that extend through clamp jaws 120 and that enable auser to secure clamp jaws 120 directly to a member being clamped by useof a fastener such as a screw. This feature of the instant invention isparticularly useful in certain medical applications, such as the settingof fractured bones, since clamp jaws 120 can be secured directly to thebones to eliminate any slipping of clamp 10 as the bones are being set,and its attendant damage to soft tissue.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention as depicted inFIG. 2, cylindrical arms 92 and clamp arms 100 are elongated to provideclamping force a greater distance from a users' hand.

In another alternative embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 4and 5 an angular adjustment assembly 150 is secured to shafts 22.Angular adjustment assembly 150 includes a ring 152 having a pluralityof teeth 154 secured to its circumference, the ring being secured to arm90 and thus to cylindrical arm 92. Angular adjustment assembly 150 maycomprise a two-piece body, 156, 158 each having a plurality of notches160 in an interior portion thereof that engage teeth 154 of ring 152.Body piece 156 is secured to shaft 22 of clamp 10, and is secured tobody piece 158 by a threaded screw 162 that is inserted through anaperture 164 in piece 156 to engage a threaded aperture 166 in bodypiece 158. By loosening screw 162 body pieces 156 and 158 may beseparated thereby freeing ring 152, which can then be rotated to anyangular position desired by a user. This angular position is thenmaintained by tightening screw 162, thereby engaging teeth 154 withnotches 160. FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of the invention similar tothat of FIG. 4, having elongated cylindrical arms 92 and clamp arms 100.

Referring now to FIG. 6, and in another alternative embodiment of theinstant invention, clamp 10 shafts 22 terminate in a ball joint assembly180 that includes a ball clamp 182 having a semi-spherical notch 184therein and a threaded aperture 186 that accepts a clamp set screw 188there through. A central longitudinal passage 190 is also provided inclamp 182 that communicates with semi-spherical notch 184 and isbisected by set screw 188. A ball 200 is secured to arm 90, and thenceto cylindrical arm 92, and is secured in semi-spherical notch 194 bytightening set screw 188. Loosening set screw 188 permits rotation ofball 200 and thereby adjustment of the position of clamp jaws 120.

In a yet further embodiment of the instant invention as depicted inFIGS. 7 and 8, an additional swivel joint assembly 210 is provided topermit rotation of clamp jaws 120. In this embodiment of the invention,arm 90 comprises a tube that has a slightly smaller diameter than thatof a swivel tube 91 that is secured to lateral adjustment assembly 40.Arm 90 is inserted into swivel tube 91 and is retained in its positionby a set screw 93 that is threaded through an aperture 95 in swivel tube91. When set screw 93 is loosened, arm 90 is free to rotate into adesired position. Set screw 93 can then be tightened to secure arm 90,and thus clamp jaws 120, in position. In one embodiment of the inventiona collar 97 is provided that engages both arm 90 and swivel tube 91 andpermits them to slide relative to each other, but does not permit arm 90to completely disengage swivel tube 91. FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment ofthe invention similar to that of FIG. 7, having elongated cylindricalarms 92 and clamp arms 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, clamp 10 comprises an additionalembodiment wherein shafts 22 are secured directly to swivel joint 210.This embodiment of the invention provides a simple and economical clamp10 that still retains flexibility in use. FIG. 10 depicts an embodimentof the invention similar to that of FIG. 9, with the exception of theuse of crescent-shaped clamp jaws 102, which may be more suitable foruse in situations where relatively cylindrical members are being joined.

FIG. 11 depicts an alternative embodiment of the invention whereinshafts 22 are secured directly to cylindrical arms 92. This embodimentof the invention is economical to manufacture, and still enables theuser to adjust the both the angle and extension of clamp jaws 102quickly and efficiently.

Referring now to FIG. 12, clamp 10 is depicted employed in clamping twomembers 1, the members in this exemplary embodiment being a fracturedbone. Offset assembly 40 is employed to move clamp jaws 120 laterallyapart to facilitate setting the bone. FIGS. 13 and 14 also depictalternative embodiments of the instant invention discussed herein aboveemployed in setting or clamping a fractured bone 1. It will beappreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the variousembodiments of the invention described and claimed herein provide ahighly configurable and adjustable clamp that facilitates securing twomembers efficiently by a single user.

While the present invention has been shown and described herein in whatare considered to be the preferred embodiments thereof, illustrating theresults and advantages over the prior art obtained through the presentinvention, the invention is not limited to those specific embodiments.Thus, the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to betaken as illustrative only and other embodiments may be selected withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention, as set forth in theclaims appended hereto.

We claim:
 1. An apparatus for providing a clamping force to two objectsto be clamped together comprising: a pair of opposed handles, each ofsaid handles having a shaft secured thereto, said shafts pivotallysecured together at a central point; an offset adjustment assemblysecured to each shaft at a terminal end thereof, said offset adjustmentassembly including a collar secured to said shaft, said collar having anaperture therein and an offset bar slidably engaged for lateral motionthrough said collar aperture, said offset bar secured to saidcylindrical arm; a cylindrical arm secured to each adjustment assembly,said cylindrical arm having an aperture therein; an extendable armdisposed through the aperture of each of said cylindrical arms andhaving distal and proximal ends, said extendable arm capable of beingextended and retracted through said aperture; and a clamp jaw pivotallysecured to each of said extendable arms, whereby forcing said handlestogether forces said clamp jaws together.
 2. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 1 comprising: a frusto-conical surface disposed in the aperture ofsaid collar; and a frusto-conical wedge engaging the frusto-conicalsurface of said collar to prohibit lateral motion of said offset barthrough said collar aperture.
 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1wherein said offset adjustment assembly comprises an angular adjustmentassembly comprising: a body having first and second pieces securedtogether by a releasable fastener, each having a plurality of notches atan interior portion thereof, said first body piece secured to saidshaft; and a ring having a plurality of teeth on the circumferencethereof, said ring secured to said cylindrical arm.
 4. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said offset adjustment assembly comprises aball joint assembly comprising: a ball clamp secured to said shaft, saidclamp having a semi-spherical notch therein bisected by a clamp screwfor compressing said notch; a spherical ball secured to said cylindricalarm, said ball secured in said notch wherein the tightening of saidclamp screw prevents said ball from rotation in said ball clamp.